BTCC STAR RACES INTO HOPWOOD SERVICES

British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) race ace, Tom Onslow-Cole, will be star of the show next week as Autogas Limited marks the availability of LPG at Hopwood Services. Visitors to the event will be in with the chance of winning two VIP tickets for a BTCC race meeting during the 2012 season.

Representatives from Autogas, the UK’s leading Liquefied Petroleum gas (LPG) supplier, will be hosting the event at Hopwood Services from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 26^th November.

Tom, who has recently converted his Range Rover Sport to run on LPG, will join the team from 10 am -12 noon giving away Autogas merchandise to visitors to the event. Motorists filling up with LPG on the forecourt during the event will benefit from a £5 fuel voucher for LPG purchases over 35 litres.

Commenting on the event Autogas general manager, Jem Aldridge, says “Fuel prices are hot on the agenda at the moment and motorists are looking for ways to save money on their fuel and motoring costs.

“Every penny counts and Autogas LPG offers a significant saving without the compromises and anxiety associated with other ‘alternative’ fuel types. In fact, it can help motorists cut fuel costs by up to 40 per cent.”

The company’s Business Development Manager, Paul Oxford adds: “At a time of ever increasing petrol and diesel prices, LPG cannot be ignored as an alternative. It currently retails at an average price of 73.9 pence per litre, compared to 133.7 ppl for petrol and 140.9 ppl for diesel*.”

Liquefied Petroleum Gas, or LPG, has an established and easily accessible refuelling network and is available from 1,400 public refuelling points up and down the country including eight sites in the West Midlands; with the majority of Autogas Limited LPG refuelling sites being located on Shell forecourts on motorways and major trunk roads, allowing drivers to benefit from all the normal forecourt facilities including fuel card payments.

Paul Oxford adds: “What drivers really like is the fact that it’s the same as driving a petrol car with no compromise on vehicle range and performance. With over 10% of UK forecourts now retailing autogas drivers don’t have to go out of their way to refuel. In fact to make life easier we provide a free to download satnav site locator on our website’’

ENDS

* Prices taken from www.petrolprices.com, 15 November 2011

Issued on behalf of Autogas by Connect PR

For further information, please contact Kathy Hodson

Connect PR, The Chubb Building, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT

Tel: 01902 714957 / 07890 381725

Email: Kathy@connect-group.com

AUTOGAS POISED TO SHED ‘ALTERNATIVE’ IMAGE

With fuel prices reaching astronomical levels, alternative fuel options are at the top of fleet managers’ agendas. However, the answer may not lie in futuristic technologies or far-fetched fuel developments, but on the UK’s existing forecourts.

Autogas liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, has been singled out as a viable alternative fuel and is readily available today for motorists to enjoy costs savings as well as environmental benefits.

The European Expert Group on Transport Fuels, established by the European Commission last March, has already stated that Autogas could increase from 3 per cent of the road fuel mix to at least ten per cent by 2020*

The Expert Group’s report, published on 25 January, notes that “LPG is currently the most widely used alternative fuel in Europe” adding that “the core infrastructure is established, with over 27,000 public filling stations”. Given this already existing presence, Autogas is well-placed to act as a bridge to help ease Europe’s transition to a more sustainable transport model.

Autogas Limited is the UK leading forecourt supplier of LPG. Their general manager, Jem Aldridge welcomes this report and says that the benefits of the cleaner fuel speak for themselves, but fleet managers may not be aware of how easy it is to switch to LPG. “Although Autogas is often referred to as an ‘alternative’ fuel, it really should be known as the third grade on the forecourt.

“Advances are being made in electric vehicles, but these remain limiting in terms of range and their ability to travel long distances. For high mileage users LPG is the most viable fuel compared to petrol or diesel.”

Jem goes on to explain how easy it is to specify an LPG fleet. “When considering fuel choices, a simple comparison between LPG, petrol and diesel will reveal significant results. Currently retailing at 76.3 pence per litre*, LPG offers huge savings.

“The environmental benefits are substantial too. Vehicles running on LPG produce far less carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions such as oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter (PM10’s) compared to other road fuels.”

Jem adds: “The initial cost of conversion is quickly recouped in the running cost savings and there is an established network of approved Autogas Installers that can carry out this work. Alternatively Citroën offer a LPG / petrol option of the Berlingo van under their Ready to Run Program and Mazda and Proton cars now offer Petrol / LPG options on some of their ranges.

Autogas is currently available at over 1,400 public access refuelling sites in the UK , with more planned openings this year. To help drivers find their nearest LPG station Autogas offers a free to download ‘Point of Interest’ file for leading satellite navigation systems. It is available online at www.autogasfinder.co.uk. There are also various smart phone apps that direct motorists to their nearest refuelling site.

For more information on how Autogas can benefit your fleet, log on to www.autogas.ltd.uk or call 01527 507 800

Notes to editors
* Figures quoted from the European Expert Group on Transport Fuels in its press release dated 27 January 2011, Autogas to Play a Larger Role in Europe’s Fuel Mix.
* Prices quoted from the AA’s Fuel Price Report, January 2011

AUTOGAS INCREASES LPG AVAILABILITY IN HALIFAX

As the volatility of petrol prices continues and the introduction of an additional two pence per litre tax looms, motorists in Halifax will now find it easier to enjoy savings of up to 37 per cent(1).

Autogas, the leading automotive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplier, has announced that it has further increased availability with Shell Salterhebble becoming the latest service station to offer LPG.

The total number of LPG stations in the UK is over 1,400(2) and, as Autogas National Marketing Coordinator, Emma Bartle, explains, LPG availability is core to the company’s policy of delivering fuel to the thousands of LPG motorists.

“Autogas is committed to providing LPG customers with a wide-range of convenient and accessible service stations offering LPG.

“With over 160,000(3) vehicles now being powered by LPG it’s vital we continually modify and update our location strategy.”

The introduction of LPG to Shell Salterhebble is part of an overall plan to improve nationwide availability and forms part of our plan to create 15 new LPG outlets in 2009.

Shell Salterhebble is located on the A629 between Halifax and Junction 24 of the M62.

Emma adds: “Anyone thinking of converting their vehicle to run on LPG can be assured they will be no more than five4 miles away from an LPG service station in major conurbations, a figure which is continually monitored.

“Conversions should always be carried out by an LPGA Approved Installer who will comply with set safety standards, has undergone extensive training and examinations and can advise on the most suitable system for your vehicle.”

There are around 220 outlets currently supplied by Autogas in the UK and a full list can be found at www.autogas.ltd.uk.

Vehicles running on LPG produce far fewer harmful emissions that contribute to environmental and health problems than traditional road fuels. LPG vehicles produce 17% less carbon dioxide than petrol and 2% less than diesel, 120 per cent less NOx than petrol and staggering 2,000 per cent less than diesel and in terms of small particle emissions (PM10) one LPG vehicle will emit up to 120 times less than a diesel vehicle(5).

Added benefits of running a vehicle on LPG can include up to 100 per cent exemption from the London Congestion Charge and increased residual vehicle values.

For further information on Autogas and how to convert your petrol vehicle to run on LPG, visit www.autogas.ltd.uk. For information on bulk tank installation, contact Calor on 0800 216 659 or visit http://www.lpg-vehicles.co.uk/.

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Notes to editors:
Full address for the new Autogas refueling site in Halifax:
Shell Salterhebble
Salterhebble Hill
Halifax
West Yorkshire
HX3 0QE

(1) Savings are based on official combined consumption figures published on www.renault.co.uk for 2.0 16V Laguna Sport Tourer assuming a 20% reduction for LPG. National average fuel prices taken from www.fleetnews.co.uk. In order to calculate potential fuel savings, Autogas has made a savings calculator available on its web site: www.autogas.ltd.uk.
(2) Source: UKLPG
(3) Source: UKLPG
(4) Based on LPG forecourt availability within London/M25, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Nottingham, Leicester, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Newcastle, Durham, Aberdeen
(5) Small particle emissions are related to health effects including increased risk of heart and lung disease and problems such as asthma. All figures taken form the European Emissions Testing Programme 2003

In 2008, 17,000 LPG conversions were carried out by LPGA Approved Installers – an increase of 36 per cent on 2007’s figures and the highest number of conversions in five years. The total number of LPG vehicles on the UK’s roads now stands at around 155,000.

A selection of LPG powered vehicles are available for road testing for motoring journalists - please contact kathy@connect-group.com.